A TEESSIDE man is the first drink-driver to lose his licence under a North Yorkshire Police fast-track Christmas crackdown.

Dean Brew, 22, of Stirling Road, Redcar appeared at Scarborough Magistrates Court charged with drink-driving after being stopped by police on the A171 at Scaling Dam less than 48 hours before.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £200 and ordered to pay costs totalling £100.

The force’s campaign operates via a special fast-track court system established with the Crown Prosecution Service for this year’s Christmas drink and drug drive campaign.

Chief Supt Andy McMillan, of North Yorkshire Police’s Protective Services, said: “This sends a clear and stark warning to all motorists who believe they are above the law. Mr Brew has shown total disregard for the law and now faces a bleak Christmas, is £300 worse off and without his driving licence.”

The driver was followed by officers in North Yorkshire into the Cleveland area before they stopped and arrested him at Charltons, near Guisborough.

He recorded 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with 35 the legal limit.

The force drink and drug drive campaign was launched on December 1. Known hotspots will be targeted in towns and cities as well as rural pubs where drivers think they can go undetected.

If anyone knows of anyone who regularly drinks and drives, or drives after using drugs, they can give details anonymously and may qualify for a cash reward. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.